Alternative history enters Hindi cinema

Film: D Day

Director: Nikhil Advani

Let us keep aside the coincidence that D Day released on a dry day, and focus on the coincidence of how Rishi Kapoor's character of Goldman resembles Dawood Ibrahim. But apart from playing it safe by not naming the character after the real life kingpin, Nikhil Advani gets his basics right. From using verbal and non-verbal codes that convince you who the man really is, D Day takes you on a journey no Hindi film has embarked upon.

The film opens with a R&AW team consisting of Wali Khan, Rudra Pratap, Zoya and Aslam (Irrfan, Arjun, Huma and Akash Dahiya) undertake the cohort mission (Operation Goldman) of striking at a wedding to seize India's most wanted criminal. The film then takes you backwards and counts down to how they all came to be in one place. Developing every character's back story without playing to the gallery at any given point, the film makes you root for the foursome.

Why D Day is an important film is that it introduces a genre in Hindi cinema previously unknown. Although we have had plenty of historically inaccurate films, cinema about alternative history (like Inglorious Basterds) has never really been made. In doing so, the film shows you things you had never dreamt of seeing.

Unlike Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Shootout At Wadala, where we are indirectly introduced to the Bhai in the past, and unlike films like D, Shootout at Lokhandwala and others, where he is simply shown as a shadow who runs the show while safe in his house in Dubai; D Day imagines Goldman as he is today - wise and frail with age. From the red aviators that never leave his face to each and every dialogue he mouths, the film tries to give an insider's perspective on the don.

The complex flow of events is simplified, but not over-simplified and keeps you interested in the proceedings. Huma Qureshi and Arjun Rampal stick to their characters and are pretty convincing. Irrfan Khan as Wali Khan would steal the show on any given day, but comes second to a phenomenal show put up by Rishi Kapoor. Adding a little royal demeanour to his Rauf Lala from Agneepath, he (with a decent contribution of the makeup) has you convinced that you are seeing the man who has terrorised this country for over two decades.

Playing to its strengths, the film is entertaining through and through. A few action sequences are very well choreographed but there are some that appear just too choreographed and leave a scratch on an otherwise job-well-done.

Now that this weekend has you spoilt for choice, this would be a safe bet to take. Because White Houses will be blown many more times and producers will introduce their sons again, but India will only strike back once in a while. Make the most of it.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Published in DNA (Pune) on July 20, 2013